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Follow the Cricket Tour To India.

England cricket chief Tim Lamb is only `hopeful` that all five England players who are debating whether to tour India will travel.

Craig White, Andrew Caddick, Ashley Giles, Marcus Trescothick and Robert Croft have all asked for more time before reaching a decision.

Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, says he has not set a deadline but wants answers "sooner rather than later".

He also emphasised that if any of the squad did withdraw, it would not jeopardise their future England chances.

"I am still hopeful that all 16 players will confirm their availability, " said Lamb.

"Having given the players extra time to talk the situation through with their families I am sure we will have 100 per cent.

"I would be disappointed if anyone pulled out but we have to respect the wishes of the individual.

"If they pull out, we will find others to go in their place. It won't jeopardise their future chances of selection, however.

"That would be most unfair as this is a unique situation. But we need a decision sooner rather than later.

Lamb, speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, reiterated that all the avialable advice given to the squad points to a safe trip.

"We have liaised regularly with Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and with the British HighCommission in Dehli," added Lamb.

"Throughout the whole process we have been guided by the experts and the experts are telling us India is a perfectly safe place to tour at the moment."

That view is backed up by former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, who says he is baffled by the fuss.

"Why should it not be safe? " said Imran. "There is no war in India. I fail to understand what the problem is.

"The chances of anything happening in India are the same as something happening in England next summer, virtually nothing.

"So I can't believe the stuff I am reading that cricketers don't want to go. Why would anyone be threatened in India?

"Perhaps people looking at TV and the papers can be spooked out. But the reality is different.

"I don't even feel worried in Pakistan. So why should anyone be worried in India.

"India has nothing to do with what's going on in Afghanistan. I can't get the connection."

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BOTHAM: TOUR IS IMPOSSIBLE

You can see all England's Test matches in India Exclusively live on Sky Sports

England legend Ian Botham claims England's tour of India cannot go ahead in the current climate of unrest in the Middle East.

England captain Nasser Hussain and his team-mates are to meet New Delhi's high commissioner on Tuesday to discuss whether the tour can be completed safely, with some squad members having already voiced their concerns about the three-match Test series.

Now Botham, regarded as one of the finest all-rounders in the sport's history and a commentator for Sky Sports, has joined the debate.

He feels there has been too much unrest following the US military strikes on Afghanistan, even in the Indian sub-Continent, for the players' safety to be assured.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I personally think it's impossible that it can go ahead. There's too much going on in the world at the moment and India is too close to the centre of the problems.

"When you've got a stadium with 60,000 people there the England team is a target for someone who wants to make a point.

"Don't get me wrong, I love India, it's a beautiful country and I have got a lot of friends out there, but under the present circumstances I wouldn't want to go out there and play.

"I have to say I really would feel a little uneasy about it and I don't see any point in prolonging the agony.

"The players' minds will be elsewhere and something must happen whether it's to postpone it or move it to a neutral venue, but there were problems in Islamabad yesterday and that's just too close."

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England batsman Michael Vaughan says he has no problem going on the tour to India next month if assurances are given about safety.

Some of England's Test stars, including Vaughan's Yorkshire colleague Craig White, have questioned whether it is wise to go to the sub-continent with military action on-going in nearby Afghanistan.

"If the Foreign Office say it's safe to go, I would go," said Vaughan. "We have got a meeting on Tuesday and I am sure we will put into place and told what is going on.

"I saw Craig White was voicing his concerns about travelling there and I am obviously a bit concerned about going.

"But I cannot really say anything until I have heard from someone that lives there and knows what it's like.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb has suggested players' fears will be allayed before travelling and Nasser Hussain's men will meet the Delhi high commissioner on Tuesday, who will advise them on the issue.

The party are due to fly to India in a little over three weeks and the three-match Test series still remains in doubt.

The players meet up tomorrow (Monday) before heading for Tuesday's talks and Vaughan anticipates a keen debate on the issue.

"I am sure there will be some discussion tomorrow night amongst ourselves to see where we stand at this stage," he said.

"I have been to India a couple of times. It's a great place to tour and I know people were looking forward to going.

"I'm very keen to get out there and play some cricket but we will have to see what advice we are given," Vaughan told BBC Radio.

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England will tour India next month after it was decided that that there were "no visible signs of trouble" in the country.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Lord MacLaurin and chief executive Tim Lamb met their Indian counterparts in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and agreed to proceed with the tour.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said: "There are no visible signs of trouble in India connected with the current military action being taken by the USA and its allies.

"However, in view of the recent concerns expressed over the safety of the England players, I have confirmed to Lord MacLaurin and Tim Lamb that I have been in discussion with the Indian Government regarding the provision of appropriate security measures for the  England team while they are in our country.

"You can be sure that the Government would not allow the tour to take place if they felt that the physical safety of members of the team was under threat."

Lord MacLaurin added: "The ECB and the BCCI will continue to closely monitor events in the coming days and weeks, and we have agreed on the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue.

"Naturally both boards are very keen for the tour to proceed."

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Five England players have asked for more time before deciding whether to go on the tour of India next month.

Spinners Robert Croft and Ashley Giles, opening batsman Marcus Trescothick, pace bowler Andrew Caddick and all-rounder Craig White all have doubts about trip in the wake of military conflict in Afghanistan.
 
This week the ECB said the tour would go ahead despite the prevailing security concerns.

The England squad were given a noon deadline today (Friday) to decide whether they would travel to India after a meeting concerning worries over security.

Captain Nasser Hussain and his team met the ECB and the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sir Rob Young on Tuesday.

But both Tim Lamb and ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin confirmed they are convinced, following expert advice from the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, that it is safe to tour.

Surprisingly, no players outside the 16 selected have been put on stand-by for the proposed tour.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb said that `to the best of his knowledge` no contingency plans have been made should any of the five doubtful tourists decide to opt out of next month's trip.

"Selectors select the team, not administrators, and to the best of my knowledge no players outside the squad have been contacted," said Lamb.

"It would have been nice to have confirmation from all 16, but we felt it reasonable to give these players more time.

"There are no deadlines, but we hope shortly after the weekend that we know their intentions. We have tried to strike a balance between firmness and understanding as everyone knows that this cannot go on indefinitely.

"I am reasonably hopeful that all 16 players will tour."

Former England captain Mike Gatting told Sky Sports News that he views the developments as a good sign.

"The fact that these five players are now considering going is a good thing for England," said Gatting.

"They haven't decided against touring, so there is still a chance that the entire squad will make the trip.

Gatting rejected the notion that the doubtful five would not be mentally right for the tour if they eventually decided to go.

"Things are always going to be difficult at the start of the tour after all this kerfuffle but, once the players get out there I think they will be fine," said Gatting.

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Tim Lamb and ECB officials have been meeting the England team at Lord's this morning (Tuesday), to reassure them that it is safe to tour India, helped by the British High Commissioner.

It is understood that players will be free to opt out of the trip on an individual basis if they still have reservations after today's meeting.

The meeting was held in a hotel adjacent to Lord's, and with the tour still three weeks away, Nasser Hussain and his players will decide by Friday lunchtime whether they wish to tour India, once they had consulted their families.

But both Lamb and ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin confirmed they are convinced following expert advice from the British High Commissioner in New Delhi that it is currently safe to tour.

They therefore sought to allay immediate fears of some players who have expressed doubts about security issues surrounding the tour following the escalation of the war against terrorism centred in Afghanistan as a result of last month's attacks on New York.

Lord MacLaurin said: "I am pleased to confirm once again that as things stand at the moment there is no reason why the England tour of India should not go ahead as planned."

England cricketers selected for next month's tour of India took the opportunity to voice individual opinions on the feasibility of the trip to their employers.

Captain Nasser Hussain and his team met England and Wales Cricket Board officials and the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sir Rob Young.

The tour, which comprises three back-to-back Test matches, has come into the spotlight following the military action in Afghanistan - and some players have expressed their concern about the trip.

The High Commissioner left after 45 minutes with the players but made no public comment.

Hussain's squad stayed on with the ECB hierarchy, and when the officials departed the players had their own meeting.

The England squad for India will be free to opt out of the trip on an individual basis if they still have reservations after Tuesday's meeting.

Richard Bevan, a spokesman for players centrally contracted to the ECB and managing director of the Professional Cricketers Association, insists the final decision on whether the trip will go ahead rests with the board.

Hussain, fast bowler Andy Caddick and all-rounder Craig White have all expressed concerns about their personal security.

"The players are going into the meeting with an open mind. There have been some mixed signals, and some of the players have safety concerns - especially those with young families, " said Bevan.

"What is important is that they listen to what the ECB, the Foreign Office and Sir Rob Young have to say and put across the reservations they may have.

"It will be very difficult. The Foreign Office have said Britons should keep a low profile in India. But we will wait for the outcome of the full meeting and after that we will make a decision.

"The ECB do have the final decision. But obviously there are individuals who have reservations, and after listening to Rob Young those reservations may or may not be there."

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Nasser Hussain's father claims the England captain is keen to tour India next month after all.

Joe Hussain, himself a former first-class cricketer in India, insists his Madras-born son is in favour of making the three-Test trip, despite having expressed worries over security in a country close to the war zone of Afghanistan.

"I've spoken to Nasser and I know he wants to go," Hussain senior told The Sun newspaper. "Although it's a difficult decision.

"It's always been a dream of mine to see him captaining England in the country where we were born."

Hussain's was one of the original voices of concern over the safety of the England team during their six-week tour, set to begin in the middle of November.

The players held an emergency meeting at Lord's, where they and England and Wales Cricket Board officials heard advice from the Foreign Office. Hussain and his men gave themselves a deadline of Friday to make up their minds whether they are happy to tour.

Hussain's opposite number, Sourav Ganguly, saw no problems with England touring his country and reiterated his belief that he could see no particular safety issues for England to worry about.

"I do not think security should be an issue," the former Lancashire batsman said on Radio 5 Live.
Ganguly added that cricket-mad India can hardly wait for Hussain's team to arrive.

"We are a very friendly nation and we are fanatical about this sport in our country. A lot of people back home are waiting for the English to tour," added Ganguly.

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Five England players were told on Sunday they must decide whether to tour India by early next week.

Lamb told BBC Radio 5 Live: "If somebody decides not to go on the tour then obviously we have to find a replacement. So we can't leave it until literally a few days before the team is about to depart.

"I would hope that early next week everybody will have confirmed their position."

Opener Marcus Trescothick, pace bowler Andy Caddick, all-rounder Craig White and spinners Ashley Giles and Robert Croft were granted more time on Friday to decide whether they wanted to tour.

In addition key batsman Mark Butcher, primarily responsible for England's sole Ashes Test win against Australia this year, has said he could still pull out if the situation worsened on the subcontinent. The team are due to fly out on November 14.

The 16 players had been given until noon on Friday to confirm their availability after the players were briefed on Tuesday on the situation in India following the September 11 terror attacks on the US and the subsequent American bombing raids on Afghanistan.

Lamb added: "I would be very disappointed if anybody pulled out but we have to respect the wishes of the individual.

"I am still hopeful that having given the players a little bit of extra time to consider their position, to talk it through with their families, we will have 100 percent confirmation of availability.

"If we don't we will respect the wishes of the players and we will just have to find somebody else to go in their place."

England are scheduled to play three Tests in India before flying home for Christmas and then returning for a five-match one-day series in January.

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, now leader of the Tehreek Insaffa party in his homeland, said he could not understand why any player would turn down a tour of India.

He told Radio 5 Live: "Why should it not be safe? There is no war in India. There might be some problems with Kashmir, but the rest of India is as safe as it has been for 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. Why would anybody be threatened in India?"

England's selectors were due to hold talks this weekend about possible replacements if any of the five who asked for more time to consider touring do decide to drop out.

The main problem for the selectors is that the five undecided players are key members of England's first choice Test side and, having earned 116 caps between them, represent a wealth of experience.

Their absence would seriously dent England's hopes of competing with India, who beat Australia in a memorable series on their own soil earlier this year.

The possible loss of the two most senior spinners in Croft and Giles would leave England especially weak in an area where they are not well blessed with natural replacements.

Giles is also due to have a fitness test on his Achilles problem next week which could rule him out of consideration in any event.

Uncapped Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson is the only other specialist spinner in the party.

The withdrawl of either Croft or Giles would almost certainly mean another recall for the experienced Phil Tufnell despite his poor showing in the final Ashes Test of the summer at The Oval.

Gloucestershire's Jeremy Snape could also come into the reckoning after impressing during England's recent one-day series in Zimbabwe.

Chris Silverwood and Andrew Flintoff are possible "like-for-like" replacements for Caddick and White respectively while the experienced John Crawley could fill in for Trescothick.

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30.10.01

Andrew Caddick...not going on tour

Fletcher and Hussain: Who will replace Croft and Caddick?

England's selectors began assessing their options on Tuesday to find replacements for Robert Croft and Andrew Caddick following their decisions not to tour India this winter.

Chairman David Graveney consulted fellow selectors Geoff Miller, captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher over the weekend to consider possible alternatives after five of the original 16-man party announced they wanted further time to discuss the situation with their families.

But it will not make their choice of substitutes any easier as they seek to replace their most senior strike bowler and most experienced spinner for one of the toughest tours of all.

With Darren Gough ruling himself out of the tour months ago because he wanted a break from international cricket, Caddick's participation was crucial to England's chances of success and to guide inexperienced fast bowler Matthew Hoggard through the problems of playing Test cricket on the sub-continent.

Now Caddick has ruled himself out, England have no alternative but to look towards Yorkshire's Chris Silverwood and Richard Johnson of Somerset to make up their seam attack.

Silverwood has suffered from a series of injuries over the years and has not played a Test since helping England to their controversial victory over South Africa at Centurion in January 2000, although both Hussain and Fletcher are known to value his ability to bowl consistently quick.

Johnson has even less experience and is yet to make a senior England appearance despite being called up to the squad twice last summer and his call-up would represent a remarkable reversal in fortunes having been forced to withdraw from the senior tour to South Africa in 1995/6 through injury.

Perhaps the selectors' biggest dilemma, though, is finding a replacement for Croft to tour India, a country where spin is king and batsmen grow up on a staple diet of slow bowling.

It is a daunting challenge for even the most experienced of spinners, which is why England may turn to Middlesex's Phil Tufnell even though they already have a left-armer in Ashley Giles, who has confirmed his availability for the tour.

Tufnell claimed only one wicket on his only Test appearance last summer during the final match of the Ashes series at the Oval and has admitted he is concerned about the troubles in Afghanistan, but also confirmed he would almost certainly accept the opportunity if England approached him. It was widely thought that his Test career was finished even before his one Test last summer.

"I've not been privy to any of the discussions about safety on the tour and I'd have to listen to what's being said, but I haven't turned down a tour for England yet and I think I'd probably go if I got the call," he said.

If the selectors are looking for a like-for-like replacement, Gloucestershire's Jeremy Snape is likely to come into the reckoning after impressing during the recent one-day tour to Zimbabwe both with bat and ball.

He is the most likely alternative, although Northamptonshire's Graeme Swann could be drafted in from the Academy trip to Australia despite reservations about his attitude following his selection for the tour to South Africa two years ago.

Swann at least has the advantage of being able to bat and field well - attributes which Fletcher is trying to develop among the squad as he attempts to find a group of "multi-talented cricketers" to take England forward.

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5.11.01

England beef-up security for India
England will include a full-time security officer in their party which sets off for India.
But chairman of selectors David Graveney will this week seek to reassure the England squad after a successful factfinding mission.
And he insists unprecedented security arrangements for the potentially volatile visit are unnecessary.
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Johmson

See the whole of England's three-Test series in India live on Sky Sports 2, starting on December 3.

Gloucestershire off-spinner Martyn Ball and Somerset seamer Richard Johnson have been called up by England for the tour to India as replacements for Robert Croft and Andrew Caddick.

The two uncapped players bring the party back up to 16-man following the decisions of Croft and Caddick not to make the trip because of security concerns.

Ball and Johnson got the vote after three days of deliberations from the selectors about who to bring into the squad.

Ball was chosen ahead of county team-mate Jeremy Snape and the more experienced Phil Tufnell, while Johnson was picked despite competition from Yorkshire's Chris Silverwood.

Their selections mean England will travel to India for their first tour in eight years with one of their most inexperienced attacks ever. The three-strong spin attack of Ball, Ashley Giles and Richard Dawson have just eight Test appearances between them, all made by Giles.

While the three seamers - Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond and Johnson - have featured just three times between them.

Only five members of the 16-man squad have played more than 20 Tests and just two players - captain Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe - have more than 50 appearances to their name.

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Dalmiya "India IS Safe"

England's tour of India seems to have finally been confirmed after a security meeting with Indian cricket officials in New Delhi on Thursday.

John Carr, England and Wales Cricket Board director of cricketing operations, and player representative Tim O'Gorman met Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, at the British High Commission to finalise details.

And a delighted Dalmiya told reporters that no real security concerns had been raised by the ECB officials, who are reviewing security for the tour scheduled to start in a fortnight. 

Uncertainty had hung over the tour because several England players expressed security concerns as a result of the U.S.-led military strikes in Afghanistan. But after a three-hour meeting, Dalmiya revealed that "the discussions were more focused on the tour and not on whether the tour will take place or not. 

"The visit in no way put a question on security arrangements planned by Indian authorities. But obviously what is happening in the subcontinent is a matter of concern to all," he said. 

Two players - leading paceman Andy Caddick and off-spinner Robert Croft - named in the 16-strong squad have pulled out but the others reviewed the situation and have agreed to travel. 

England, who are due to leave for India on November 14, are scheduled to play three tests in December and a one-day series in the New Year after a Christmas break back home. 

Dalmiya said the discussions were wide-ranging and the ECB representatives seemed quite satisfied. 

He said the ECB officials did not ask the Indian board for any written assurance on security but declined to give details of specific issues raised at the meeting. 

"India is a safe place, the whole world knows," he said afterwards

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6.11.01

PCA SECURITY DEMANDS
The Professional Cricketers' Association have delivered a series of demands to England's hierarchy including the appointment of a full-time security official to ease fears about safety on the forthcoming tour to India.
The demands are included in a report sent to all 16 members of England's squad for India and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who must satisfy the recommendations or risk the possibility of more players following Andrew Caddick (pictured) and Robert Croft and withdrawing from the trip.

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See all three of England's Test matches against India live on Sky Sports.

The Professional Cricketers' Association have delivered a series of demands to England's hierarchy including the appointment of a full-time security official to ease fears about safety on the forthcoming tour to India.

The demands are included in a report sent to all 16 members of England's squad for India and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who must satisfy the recommendations or risk the possibility of more players following Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft and withdrawing from the trip.

Compiled by PCA official Tim O'Gorman, who travelled to India last week alongside John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations, the report also calls upon a "senior ECB official" to accompany the squad throughout the two-month tour.

"The ECB still has a lot of work to do," admitted O'Gorman. "They must agree in writing to the various matters outlined in the report, and that in their opinion it is safe and that the tour can proceed.

"A senior member of the ECB must accompany the players for the entire duration of the tour and this ECB official must travel on the same planes and stay in the same hotels as the team.

"This provides support of the ECB's risk assessment and secondly, when decisions need to be made, this official can action them straight away without needing to seek committee approval in England which would take up valuable time.

"The PCA also want improved security for the team with either a full-time officer or a team of people employed to both protect the players and investigate hotels in advance of the squad arriving.

"The ECB also need to decide the exact nature of its security team, should it be a single individual or a group which would allow the main security official to stay with the team the entire time," added O'Gorman.

"This would enable that official employing someone he trusts to carry out reconnaissance work for areas the team is due to travel to."

The demands are sure to increase the financial penalties onto the ECB, who normally rely on the home nation to provide security while top officials like chairman Lord MacLaurin or chief executive Tim Lamb normally only fly out for one Test each.

Despite the nature of the PCA's demands, though, the ECB remain confident of satisfying them in the next few days and are believed to have already begun interviewing for a security officer.

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India Tour: Cricketers Bail Out

Caddick

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England's tour of India seems to have finally been confirmed after a security meeting with Indian cricket officials in New Delhi on Thursday.

John Carr, England and Wales Cricket Board director of cricketing operations, and player representative Tim O'Gorman met Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, at the British High Commission to finalise details.

And a delighted Dalmiya told reporters that no real security concerns had been raised by the ECB officials, who are reviewing security for the tour scheduled to start in a fortnight. 

Uncertainty had hung over the tour because several England players expressed security concerns as a result of the U.S.-led military strikes in Afghanistan. But after a three-hour meeting, Dalmiya revealed that "the discussions were more focused on the tour and not on whether the tour will take place or not. 

"The visit in no way put a question on security arrangements planned by Indian authorities. But obviously what is happening in the subcontinent is a matter of concern to all," he said. 

Two players - leading paceman Andy Caddick and off-spinner Robert Croft - named in the 16-strong squad have pulled out but the others reviewed the situation and have agreed to travel. 

England, who are due to leave for India on November 14, are scheduled to play three tests in December and a one-day series in the New Year after a Christmas break back home. 

Dalmiya said the discussions were wide-ranging and the ECB representatives seemed quite satisfied. 

He said the ECB officials did not ask the Indian board for any written assurance on security but declined to give details of specific issues raised at the meeting. 

"India is a safe place, the whole world knows," he said afterwards.

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Imran: India is safe.

Pakistan cricket legend Imran Khan has calmed fears about safety by insisting England's cricketers would be safe on their forthcoming tour to India despite disturbing scenes over the weekend.

All-rounder Imran, now a leading politician in Pakistan, has been staggered by the reluctance of five of England's players to make a decision about their participation in the two-month tour.

Marcus Trescothick, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft, Craig White and Andrew Caddick all asked for more time to make their decision after the England and Wales Cricket Board gave all 16 players a deadline of noon last Friday.

They are expected to make an announcement early this week although both Giles and White may wait until after their impending fitness tests on November 7 before making their intentions known.

But despite disturbing scenes in Bombay on Saturday, when seven people were killed during an Anti-American demonstration, Imran does not believe India will provide a security risk to England's squad.

"The chances of anything happening to them in India are the same as something happening in England next summer - virtually nothing," stressed Imran.

"I can't quite believe what I'm reading about some of the cricketers not wanting to go because I can't see anyone being under threat in India.

"There's very little threat in Pakistan, which is much closer to the troubles, except for a few demonstrations although it could get ugly here if there is more bloodshed in Afghanistan.

"But in India it just baffles me to why there should be any problem."

Imran's stance mirrors that of the ECB, who were given a reassuring phone call from Sir Rob Young, the British High Commissioner in Delhi, just hours after the trouble on Saturday.

"Sir Rob Young kindly rang me before news of the disturbances became public and told me that the Foreign Office advice to travellers in India had not changed," explained John Carr, the ECB's Director of Cricket Operations.

"It was obviously a serious incident, but from what I've been told it was demonstration which got totally out of hand and they see it as an isolated incident."

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Botham:Tour is impossible.

You can see all England's Test matches in India Exclusively live on Sky Sports

England legend Ian Botham claims England's tour of India cannot go ahead in the current climate of unrest in the Middle East.

England captain Nasser Hussain and his team-mates are to meet New Delhi's high commissioner on Tuesday to discuss whether the tour can be completed safely, with some squad members having already voiced their concerns about the three-match Test series.

Now Botham, regarded as one of the finest all-rounders in the sport's history and a commentator for Sky Sports, has joined the debate.

He feels there has been too much unrest following the US military strikes on Afghanistan, even in the Indian sub-Continent, for the players' safety to be assured.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I personally think it's impossible that it can go ahead. There's too much going on in the world at the moment and India is too close to the centre of the problems.

"When you've got a stadium with 60,000 people there the England team is a target for someone who wants to make a point.

"Don't get me wrong, I love India, it's a beautiful country and I have got a lot of friends out there, but under the present circumstances I wouldn't want to go out there and play.

"I have to say I really would feel a little uneasy about it and I don't see any point in prolonging the agony.

"The players' minds will be elsewhere and something must happen whether it's to postpone it or move it to a neutral venue, but there were problems in Islamabad yesterday and that's just too close."

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Vaughan: `India's a great place to tour

England batsman Michael Vaughan says he has no problem going on the tour to India next month if assurances are given about safety.

Some of England's Test stars, including Vaughan's Yorkshire colleague Craig White, have questioned whether it is wise to go to the sub-continent with military action on-going in nearby Afghanistan.

"If the Foreign Office say it's safe to go, I would go," said Vaughan. "We have got a meeting on Tuesday and I am sure we will put into place and told what is going on.

"I saw Craig White was voicing his concerns about travelling there and I am obviously a bit concerned about going.

"But I cannot really say anything until I have heard from someone that lives there and knows what it's like.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb has suggested players' fears will be allayed before travelling and Nasser Hussain's men will meet the Delhi high commissioner on Tuesday, who will advise them on the issue.

The party are due to fly to India in a little over three weeks and the three-match Test series still remains in doubt.

The players meet up tomorrow (Monday) before heading for Tuesday's talks and Vaughan anticipates a keen debate on the issue.

"I am sure there will be some discussion tomorrow night amongst ourselves to see where we stand at this stage," he said.

"I have been to India a couple of times. It's a great place to tour and I know people were looking forward to going.

"I'm very keen to get out there and play some cricket but we will have to see what advice we are given," Vaughan told BBC Radio

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MacLaurin: will continue to monitor events

England will tour India next month after it was decided that that there were "no visible signs of trouble" in the country.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Lord MacLaurin and chief executive Tim Lamb met their Indian counterparts in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and agreed to proceed with the tour.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said: "There are no visible signs of trouble in India connected with the current military action being taken by the USA and its allies.

"However, in view of the recent concerns expressed over the safety of the England players, I have confirmed to Lord MacLaurin and Tim Lamb that I have been in discussion with the Indian Government regarding the provision of appropriate security measures for the  England team while they are in our country.

"You can be sure that the Government would not allow the tour to take place if they felt that the physical safety of members of the team was under threat."

Lord MacLaurin added: "The ECB and the BCCI will continue to closely monitor events in the coming days and weeks, and we have agreed on the importance of maintaining a constant dialogue.

"Naturally both boards are very keen for the tour to proceed."

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Caddick: Withdrew from squad

See all three of England's Test matches against India live on Sky Sports.

The Professional Cricketers' Association have delivered a series of demands to England's hierarchy including the appointment of a full-time security official to ease fears about safety on the forthcoming tour to India.

The demands are included in a report sent to all 16 members of England's squad for India and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who must satisfy the recommendations or risk the possibility of more players following Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft and withdrawing from the trip.

Compiled by PCA official Tim O'Gorman, who travelled to India last week alongside John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations, the report also calls upon a "senior ECB official" to accompany the squad throughout the two-month tour.

"The ECB still has a lot of work to do," admitted O'Gorman. "They must agree in writing to the various matters outlined in the report, and that in their opinion it is safe and that the tour can proceed.

"A senior member of the ECB must accompany the players for the entire duration of the tour and this ECB official must travel on the same planes and stay in the same hotels as the team.

"This provides support of the ECB's risk assessment and secondly, when decisions need to be made, this official can action them straight away without needing to seek committee approval in England which would take up valuable time.

"The PCA also want improved security for the team with either a full-time officer or a team of people employed to both protect the players and investigate hotels in advance of the squad arriving.

"The ECB also need to decide the exact nature of its security team, should it be a single individual or a group which would allow the main security official to stay with the team the entire time," added O'Gorman.

"This would enable that official employing someone he trusts to carry out reconnaissance work for areas the team is due to travel to."

The demands are sure to increase the financial penalties onto the ECB, who normally rely on the home nation to provide security while top officials like chairman Lord MacLaurin or chief executive Tim Lamb normally only fly out for one Test each.

Despite the nature of the PCA's demands, though, the ECB remain confident of satisfying them in the next few days and are believed to have already begun interviewing for a security officer.

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The first Test at Mohali begins on December 3. England will arrive in India on November 14.

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11.11.01

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13. 11. 01

With reports of another plane crash in New York happening as the press conference took place, England cricket captain Nasser Hussain refused to be drawn on whether this would affect their winter tour to India.

The tourists are due to arrive on Wednesday, and nothing to the contrary was said at the press conference, but this latest plane crash will no doubt lead to further consideration over whether to pull out for safety reasons.

England's first full tour of India in eight years was thrown into doubt after several players raised safety concerns because of the current situation in the sub-continent due to the US-led strikes in Afghanistan.

"I am cricket captain of England and will only comment on cricket questions," said Hussain.

"The talking has been done, everything has been sorted out and we are concentrating on the cricket."

A tight security ring will be thrown around the 16-man squad which lands early on Wednesday where safety will be as much in focus as its performances.

Nasser Hussain's side agreed to travel after being assured by government and cricket officials of both countries, although England have been weakened by the decision of wicketkeeper Alec Stewart and strike bowler Darren Gough to miss the tour.

Gough's opening partner Andy Caddick and off-spinner Robert Croft subsequently opted to stay at home because of their  family's security fears over the US-led attacks on Afghanistan.

 But Hussain is confident that his young, inexperienced side will rise to the occasion

"Going to the sub-continent with any side is difficult," explained Hussain.

"We will have to come together as a team to get the most out of their ability, it will be a challenge regardless if your name is James Foster or Nasser Hussain.

"Everone is sceptical about most things, the only way to silence your detractors is to go and prove them wrong.

"We will work out our game, build team spirit, handle pressure, and make sure that we are in the with a chance, on the wicket is where we will answer questions not in a press conference," continued Hussain.

"Last winter we were questioned whether we should go," he said.

"We are being questioned now. We are going to get tested this winter, make no mistake about that, we are really going to get tested.

"This will be my biggest test, not only as a captain, but as a player too."

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Hussain: guarded on the streets

The venue for England's opening match on their tour of India has been changed, in what is the first evidence of added security measures which persuaded Nasser Hussain's side to travel.

The two-day match against the Mumbai Cricket Association  will now be played at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium because the lack of perimeter fencing at the original venue - the Bombay Gymkhana - was deemed a security risk by the hosts.

MCA joint secretary Mayank Khandwalla, explained: "We have been asked to host the match at the Wankhede Stadium for security reasons.

"It is a late development. There is some repair work going on in the West Stand, so the Wankhede Stadium may not be in the shape we want it to be for a tour match."

Andy Caddick and Robert Croft withdrew from the party, and the remaining tourists, many of whom had serious doubts about making the trip in the aftermath of America's response to September's terrorist attacks, were given assurances by the England & Wales Cricket Board that their safety would come first.

The ECB again stressed the point in the light of this decision, with spokesman Mark Hodgson saying: "The security of the players has always been the ECB's number one priority on this tour."

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19. 11. 01

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